A new guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone from Curcuma leucorrhiza Roxb.

Abstract

A naturally occurring guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone (1), along with 10 known compounds (2–11), was isolated from the chloroform extract of the dried rhizomes of Curcuma leucorrhiza Roxb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compound 1 expressed antioxidant activity. The taxonomic status of C. leucorrhiza is briefly discussed based on the chemotaxonomic significance of these findings.

Keywords::

• Curcuma leucorrhiza Roxb
• Zingiberaceae
• guaianolide
• antioxidant

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the SAIF NEHU, Shillong for ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and Mass spectra. We thank Babulal Das, IIT Guwahati for solving single-crystal X-ray analysis. One of us (SDA) thanks the UGC, New Delhi for BSR fellowship for financial support.